The Richmond Flying Squirrels (32-28) cashed in four first-inning walks and never looked back, dropping the Erie SeaWolves (21-39), 6-2, at The Diamond on Sunday afternoon. The Squirrels took the series with the win and are now 10-1-1 in their last 12 series. They finished their homestand 4-2.
Erie lefty Josh Turley handed the Squirrels a big inning in the first, walking the first four hitters on 17 total pitches. Devin Harris was the fourth consecutive walk, which forced in Kelby Tomlinson, who drew the first. An out later, Mitch Delfino lifted a sacrifice-fly to center field to plate Rando Moreno. Engel Beltre then delivered the big blow in the inning, a two-run double to right-center field. Mac Williamson and Harris scored for a 4-0 lead. Richmond plated all four runs on just one hit, turning all four walks into runs.
The SeaWolves scratched out a run in both the fourth and fifth innings off of lefty Matt Lujan to cut the Richmond lead in half. Tony Thomas led off the fourth with a single and Jason Krizan walked behind him. Connor Harrell then plated Erie’s first run with an RBI single. Erie strung together three consecutive singles with one out in the fifth to make it 4-2. Curt Powell delivered the first, Wynton Bernard the second and Dean Green the third. Powell scored on Green’s single, floated into left-center field.
Lujan (5-4) worked five innings for the day and was charged with two earned runs on seven hits. He walked three, struck out six and earned his fifth win of the year.
Right-hander Tyler Mizenko followed Lujan and worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out three in the process. Lefty Phil McCormick entered and recorded the final out of the seventh inning. He also worked through the side in order in the eighth.
Remarkably, Turley (5-5) settled in following his early control issues. He made it through seven innings, allowing no further damage. He was charged with four earned runs on five hits. He walked four, struck out five and was doomed to his fifth loss of the year.
Richmond put the game out of reach in the eighth against lefty Ryan Robowski. Harris triggered the two-out rally with a double through the right-center field alley. Ricky Oropesa followed and launched his team-leading eighth home run of the season. The two-run shot to right field gave the Squirrels the final margin, 6-2.
Lefty Josh Osich finished off the win with a scoreless ninth. He entered a non-save situation.
The Squirrels enjoy a scheduled off day on Monday before traveling to Harrisburg, PA, on Tuesday to open a three-game series against the Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals). The opener is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday night at Metro Bank Park. The Flying Squirrels Pregame Warmup will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 910 and FoxSportsRichmond.com.
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